Bellevue balloon business flying high

BELLEVUE

Pilot Jeremy Colvin, 37, has been flying since he was 18. He has flown jets, helicopters, gliders and turboprop and propeller airplanes.

But for Colvin, nothing beats taking to the skies using mankind's oldest and least-controllable method: hot air balloons.

Colvin, who lives in rural Bellevue, pays the bills as a corporate pilot for Advanced Air Services in Clyde, flying business executives all over the country.

But when he's off duty, Colvin runs a side business -- Eagle Spirit Ballooning.

For $225 per person, customers get about one hour in the air, digital photographs of their flight and a traditional champagne toast (or sparkling cider) at the conclusion of the flight.

Colvin's corporate customers expect to be taken wherever they want, whenever they want.

Balloon ride customers, however, are at the mercy of the winds. It's that sense of adventure Colvin enjoys.

"It's different almost every flight," he said. "It's a feeling of freedom. Things slow down. You're drifting over watching deer in the woods, things you're not going to see on a plane."

Colvin's balloons, several stories high, carry a basket that can hold Colvin and two or three passengers.

One recent customer was Bob Linder of Clyde, who took along a friend visiting from Florida. He wanted to give her a memorable experience, and thinks he succeeded.

The balloon was launched in Clyde and went over areas Linder was familiar with growing up in the area.

"It was something I would recommend everyone do at least once in their lifetime," he said.

Colvin's crew for the rides includes his father, Jim Colvin, a retired director of maintenance at Cedar Point, and his fiance, Jennifer Whitman.

Colvin's daughters, Sky and Chey, ages 3 and 1, also are often present. Their duty is to wear shirts promoting Eagle Spirit Ballooning "and look cute," he said.

A propane flame heats the air, providing lift for the balloon. Colvin carries a 30-gallon liquid propane tank and displays a banner promoting his supplier, Ludwig Propane of Fremont.

The whole adventure, including time spent getting the balloon in the air and retrieving the passengers from wherever the balloon landed, usually takes about three hours.

Colvin likes to launch about three hours before sunset, when winds usually are calm.

"It's generally the nicest part of the day," he said.

The balloon generally flies at 500 to 1,000 feet, which offers the best view.

The view sometimes includes people who had expected privacy. For example, the balloon sometimes has drifted over people swimming nude in a backyard pool, Colvin said. They usually take it in good humor and wave, he said.

Colvin's customers include people who always wanted to ride in a balloon and people celebrating a special event, such as a birthday or an anniversary. Grandchildren sometimes chip in to give their grandparents a balloon ride.

On occasion, when Colvin carries a couple, the young man is planning to propose to his girlfriend.

On one such occasion, the families of the two young people were following the balloon. They wanted to throw a celebration when the balloon landed -- but only if she said yes.

"They gave me a big roll of toilet paper. They said, if she says yes, throw this out," Colvin said.

The young woman accepted the proposal.

"There was a big welcoming party," Colvin said.

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